Device for holding down the front of shirts



May 15, 1934. c. slLvERMAN 1,958,643

DEVICE FOR HOLDING DOWN THE FRONT OF SHIRTS Filed July 30, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 15, 1934. c. slLvERMAN 1,958,643

DEVICE FOR HOLDING DOWN THE FRONT OF SHIRTS Filed July 30, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .vnl I'. 'I'. '11.114 u A @2,67775; r 2472,06 SZnW//fd/ 47m @04ML Patented May 15, 1934 UNITED STATES taarten?.v

PATENT OFFICE DEVCE FOR HOLDING DOWN THE FRONT OF SHIRTS 17 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for holding down the front of a shirt, particularly adapted to hold down the front of a dress shirt, which unless held down is apt to bulge out in front in an unsightly manner and unless held down is apt to display a vacant space between the lower starched shirt edge and the upper vest edge.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved simplied means for this purpose consisting of a minimum number of working parts and including a means adapted to be rigidly clamped to a shirt front edge and having hook or other means depending therefrom adapted to overlappingly engage a trouser button to firmly retain the shirt front against the bosom and the upper front portion of the torso at all times even during strenuous exercise, such as dancing.

A further object of my invention is to provide such a device having a resilient hook depending therefrom adapted to engage a trouser button to at all times hold the shirt front tight against the wearers stomach while permitting a certain resilient give as would be necessary in dancing without pulling out the upper trouser button. I provide for this purpose in my preferred embodiment a U-shaped member readily shaped out of flat material and a simple clamping member suitably pivoted on the upper leg thereof and resilient hook means comprising simple bent wire depending preferably from the clamping lever thereof.

Further features of my invention relate to the specic details of construction of the various embodiments shown herein.

These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appear will be best understood from a description of the accompanying drawings which illustrate various embodiments thereof.

In the drawings, Fig. l is a front view of a portion of a wearer having my invention attached to a shirt edge and an upper trouser button and showing in dotted lines the attaching position of my improved device.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a. sectional View similar to Fig. 2 through my improved U-shaped base member and with the clamping lever pivoted to an open position to allow free access of the shirt edge within the U-legs of my improved clamping base with the clamping position shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 4 is a rear perspective view of my invention in pivoted open position.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the U-shaped clamping base I preferably employ.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the clamping lever I preferably employ.

Fig. '7 is a disassembled perspective View illustrating the pivoted hook member, the spring and the back to retain the hook member and spring within said clamping member.

Fig. S is a rear perspective view of an embodiment of my invention generally similar to that shown in Figs. 1-7, but wherein the hook means 16 is made integral with the clamping lever.

Fig. 9 is a rear perspective View of a different embodiment of my invention employing a clamp for connecting the clamping lever to the upper trouser edge in place of the hook shown in the preferred embodiment.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view generally similar to Fig. 2 of the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 9.

Fig. l1 is a rear perspective View of another embodiment of my invention in pivoted open position, in which the upper leg of the U-shaped member is formed into a clamp means for clamping the shirt end against the lower leg thereof and in which the trouser button receiving portion pivotally depends from the lower leg thereof.

Fig. 12 is a sectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 11 taken along the line 12-12 thereof.

Fig. 13 is across sectional view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 11 taken along the line 13-13 thereof.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate like parts throughout, 10 generally indicates a device for holding down the front of shirts constructed in accordance with my invention. As shown in Fig. l said invention includes pivotable clamping means 12 adapted to be attached to a shirt front edge 14 andV having a preferably resilient hook orother trouser edge retaining means 16 depending therefrom adapted te be looped over a trouser button 18 to hold down said clamping means and attached shirt front. The clamping means 12 preferably includes a clamping base 20 and a clamping lever 22 pivoting lever 22 preferably constructed with a flat power arm 32 and a relatively short work arm 34 preferably bent inwardly at right angles from the upper end of said power arm 32 and provided with the clamping rear edge 36. I provide pivot means 40 on each inner side edge of said cut away portion 36 and cooperating pivot means 42 on each outer upper end of said power arm. In my preferred embodiment said improved pivot means 40 comprises pivot lugs projecting inwardly from each side edge of said cut away po-rtion 30. In my preferred embodiment said power arm is also provided with the side walls 44 projecting rearwardly at right angles therefrom and said cooperating pivot means 42 preferably comprises pivot holes 42 for said pivot lugs 40 in the upper ends of said side walls. It is thus obvious that I have provided a construction so constructed that when the power arm 32 is raised to a position at right angles to said clamping base member 20 that said work arm 34 is pivoted to a position substantially coincident with and parallel to the upper leg 24 to permit the shirt edge 14 to be inserted between the legs 24 and 26 of said U-shaped clamping member to permit said U-shaped clamping member to be placed around said shirt front edge and when said power arm 34 is lowered to a position parallel to said clamping base upper leg 24, said work arm 34 is pivoted to a locking position substantially at right angles to said lower'base leg 26 to permit said clamping edge 36 to clamp the shirt front edge 14 against said lower leg 26. As shirts are usually constructed out of fine material, it is desirable to provide clamping edges which will firmly grip them, but which will not tear them. For this purpose I preferably strike up the aligned lugs 37 in said lower leg 26 and provide thesmooth clamping edge 36 to clamp the shirt front edge 14 against said lugs.

As stated, I also provide an upper trouser button receiving hook 16 or other type of upper-trouser edge holding means depending from said .clamping means and in my preferred embodiment I provide the preferably resiliently mounted hook 16 projecting downwardly from said clamping lever 22. While the resiliently mounted hook may be constructed in any convenient manner, in my preferred embodiment I preferably construct it and mount it on the clamping lever 22 as follows. In addition to the inwardly projecting yside walls 44 of my improved clamping lever 22 I preferably provide it with the bottom end wall 50 projecting inwardly at right angles therefrom spaced from the said side walls 44 to form the channels 52 therein.

I preferably resiliently mount the trouser button receiving hook 16 or other means .employed on the lower end of said clamping lever 22 in the following manner. I provide the tro-user button receiving hook member 16 with the U-shaped .member portion 54 having theU-legs 56 and the U -base 58 and adapted to slidably ride between the side walls 44 of said clamping lever 22 and having a trouser button receiving hook portion 60 pivotally mounted as at .62 on the lower ends of the legs 56 of said U-shaped portion. To retain the U-shaped member 56 against said clamping leverv 22 I preferably provide a back member 64 having a top wall 66 and side walls 68 projecting inwardly at right angles therefrom and I preferably provide said member with a botto-m wall Z0 projecting inwardly at right angles therefrom spaced from said side walls 68 to form the channels '72 between the ends thereof and said side Walls 68. Il also preferably provide the W-shaped spring means 74 having the upper end 76 thereof adapted to abut the outer edge of the U-base 58 of the U-shaped portion 54 and the lower end 78 thereof abut an end wall, namely, either the end wall '70 of said back member 64 or the bottom end wall 50 of said clamping lever. The U-shaped member is then placed so that the U-legs 56 thereof project downwardly through the channels 52 on each side of the clamping lever 22, the spring 74 is then inserted in the position described and the back member 64 is then placed on said clamping lever in the embodiment shown so that the bottom wall '70 thereof' will lie inside the bottom wall 50 of the clamping lever to receive the lower end 78 of the spring thereon and the outer side walls 68 thereof will abut the inner edges of the side walls 44 of said clamping lever and may be frictionally pressed thereagainst to form a U- shaped member receiving box with the legs 56 of said U-shaped member projecting downwardly through the cooperating channels 52 and 72 in the lower end of said box. v

As shown in Fig. 1 to attach the device it is merely necessary to pivot the clamping lever 22 to a position at right angles to said base member 20 to provide the open channel 65 between the U-legs 24 and 26 for the insertion of the shirt edge 14 therein. After said shirt front edge 14 has been inserted between said U-legs 24 and 26 it is then obvious that my improved clamping lever may be pivoted downwards to cause the edge 36 of the work arm thereof to clamp said shirt edge 14 against said lower leg 26 and that then the hook means 16 may be placed over the upper trouser button 18. It is obvious that in use preferably where the resiliently mounted hook means is employed, that said hook may freely slide outwards due to the spring 74 to permit relative movement between said trousers and shirt front at the same time compactly retaining said shirt front against the wearers stomach. It is obvious to detach that it is merely necessary to undo the hook 16 from the upper trouser button 18 and pivotk the clamping lever 22 at right angles to said base to permit the shirt Afront edge 14 to be withdrawn from the channel thus formed between said U-'legs 24 and 26.

It is apparent that various modified forms of my invention may be constructed and I have shown in the accompanying drawings various modifications of the preferred embodiment shown in Figs. 1-7. In Fig. 8 vI have shown the hook member 16 consisting of a hook portion cut out of the power arm 32 of the clamping lever 22.

It is also apparent that the upper trouser 4edge retaining means depending from said clamping means may if desired consist itself of a clamping means having a portion 80 adapted to underlie the upper trouser edge and having aclamping lever 82 pivotally mounted thereon provided with a power arm 84 and a Work arm 86 having a preferably serrated clamping edge 88 adapted to clamp the upper trouser edge against said 'por-I tion 80. In this embodiment the portion 80 comprises a substitute for the U-shaped member 54 shown in my preferred embodiment and is provided with anv outwardly bent edge 90 adapted to abut the upper end 76 of the spring 74. Said portion 80 is adapted to slide in channels 92 formed by bending over 4the side walls 44 of the upper portion 81 of said clamping lever 22. The lower endk '76 of said spring is adapted to abut the bottom wall 50 of said clamping lever 22..4` It is thus apparent that the clamping means for receiving the upper trouser edge is therefore resiliently mounted on the clamping lever 22 in similar fashion to the hook 16 shown in Fig. 4. The spring 93 may be provided to normally urge the jaw 88 against the clamping base 80.

If desired the clamping lever 22 may be mounted transversely of the U-shaped member 20 as in the embodiment shown in Figs. 11-13. In this embodiment the cut away portion 30 extends transversely of said upper leg and the pivot means 42 are provided on each end edge of each cut away portion 30 and the cooperating pivot lugs 40 are provided on each side of the clamping lever 22 as usual. Similarly in this embodiment may the flat power arm 32 be raised to a position to bring the short work arm 34 substantially parallel with the upper leg for insertion of the shirt edge and the work arm 34 may be lowered to clamp a shirt edge against the lower leg 26. In the embodiment shown the resilient spring 95 is provided having one end thereof affixed to the lower leg 26 and the other leg 94 thereof provided with the gripping prongs 96 therein and adapted to be pushed down to a clamping position by the work arm 34 of the clamping lever 22 when the power arm 32 thereof is lowered substantially parallel with the upper leg 24. In this embodiment I employ a trouser button receiving hook which may be pivotally mounted as shown on an extension 98 depending downwardly from the lower leg 26. If desired as shown in Fig. 12 the lower leg may be provided with the upwardly extending projections 100 to cooperate with the projections 96 in the lower surface of the spring leg 94. It is apparent that any of these embodiments function in a similar manner to the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, the embodiment shown in Figs. 9 and l0 having resiliently mounted trouser gripping means, the embodiment shown in Figs. 11-13 having pivotally mounted trouser gripping means and the clamping lever 22 functioning in similar fashion whether it is mounted longitudinally of the clamping means 10 or transversely thereof.

It is apparent therefore that I have provided a novel type of device for rmly securing a shirt front to the upper end of the trousers and keeping it at all times ilat against the wearers stomach at the same time permitting comfort to the wearer and perfect relative freedom of movement between said shirt front and trousers.

It is understood that my invention is not limitedwto the specic embodiments shown and that various deviations may be made therefrom without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device for holding down the front of a shirt comprising pivoted clamp means adapted to be attached to the shirt front edge and a hook resiliently mounted within and depending from said clamp means adapted to hook over a trouser button to hold down said clamp means and attached shirt front.

2. A device for holding down the iront of a shirt, comprising pivoted clamp means adapted to be attached to the shirt front edge and upper trouser edge retaining means resiliently mounted within and depending from said clamp means.

3. A device for holding down the front of a shirt, comprising a clamping base member adapted to underlie a shirt edge, a clamping lever member pivotally mounted thereon adapted to clamp said shirt edge against said base, and ahook resiliently mounted within and depending from one of said members'adapted to loop over a trouser button to hold down said device and attached shirt front.

4. A device for holding down the front of a shirt, comprising a clamping base adapted to underlie a shirt edge, a clamping'lever pivotally mounted thereon adapted to clamp said shirt edge against said base and upper trouser edge retaining means resiliently mounted within and.

depending from one of said members to hold down said device and attached shirt front.

5. A device for holding down the front of a shirt, comprising a clamping base adapted to underlie a shirt edge, a clamping lever pivotally s mounted thereon adapted to clamp said shirt edge against said base, and a resiliently and pivotally mounted hook depending from said clamping lever adapted to loop over a trouser button to hold down said device and attached shirt front.

6. A device for holding down the front of a shirt comprising a clamping base adapted to underlie a shirt edge, a clamping lever pivotally mounted thereon so as to extend at right angles to the length of the base member and adapted to clamp said shirt edge against said base, and a loop depending from said clamping lever adapted to loop over a trouser button to hold down said device and attached shirt front.

'7. A device for holding down the front of a shirt comprising a clamping base adapted to underlie a shirt edge, a clamping lever pivotally mounted thereon so as to extend at right angles to the length of the base member and adapted to clamp said shirt edge against said base, and upper trouser edge retaining means depending from said clamping lever to hold down said device and attached shirt front.

8. A device for holding down the front of a shirt, comprising a U-shaped clamping member having an upper leg, having clamping lugs projecting upwardly therefrom and a lower leg adapted to straddle a shirt front edge having a cut away portion in the upper leg thereof having pivot ears projecting inwardly from 'each side edge thereof, a clamping lever having a fiat power arm having side walls projecting inwardly at right angles therefrom, a bottom end wall projecting inwardly at right angles therefrom spaced from said side walls to form channels between the ends thereof and said side walls and pivot holes for said pivot lugs in the upper end thereof and a relatively short work arm bent inwardly at right angles from the upper end of said power arm having a smooth clamping rear edge, whereby when said power arm is raised at right angles to said clamping base upper leg said work arm may pivot to a position substantially parallel to said upper leg to permit a shirt edge to be inserted laterally between the legs of said clamp` ing member and whereby whenl said power arm is pivoted to a locking position substantially parallel with said lower base leg, said clamping edge may clamp the shirt front edge against said lower leg lugs, a trouser button receiving hook supporting member comprising a U-shaped portion mounted between the side walls of said clamping lever and having a trouser button receiving hook portion pivotally mounted on the lower ends of the legs thereof, a back member of substantially the width of said clamping lever having top and side walls projecting inwardly at right angles therefrom and a bottom end wall projecting inwardly at right angles therefrom spaced from said end walls to form channels between the ends thereof and said side walls re' tained to said clamping lever by frictional con-l tact of the cooperating side and bottom end walls thereof forming a U-shaped member receiving box with the legs of said member projecting downwardly through the channels in the lower end thereof, and spring means abutting the U- base of said U-shaped'mernber and a bottom end wall to resiliently retain said trouser button receiving hook supporting member within said box.

9. A device for holding down y'the fro-nt of a shirt comprising a U-shaped clamping member having an upper leg and a lower leg adapted to straddle a shirt frontl edge having a cutaway portion in the upper leg thereof having pivot means on each inner side edge thereof, a clamping lever vhaving a flat power arm having side walls projecting inwardly at right angles therefrom, a bottom end wall projecting inwardly at right angles therefrom spaced from said side walls to form channels between the ends thereof and said side walls and cooperating pivot means on each outer upper end thereof and a relatively short work arm bent inwardly at right angles from the upper end of said power arm having a clamping rear edge, whereby when said power arm israised at right angles to said clamping upper leg, said work arm may pivot to a position substantially parallel to said upper leg to permit a shirt edge to beinserted laterally between the legs `of said clamping member and whereby when said power arm is pivoted to a locking position substantially parallel with said lower'leg said clamping edge may clamp the shirt front edge against said lower leg, a trouser button receiving hook supporting member comprising a U-shaped portion mounted between the lside walls of said clamping lever and having a trouser button receiving hook portion mounted .on the lower ends of the legs thereof, a back member ofsubstantially the width of said clamping lever having top and side walls projecting inwardly at right 4angles therefrom and a bottom end wall projecting inwardly at vright angles therefrom spaced from said end walls to form channels be-l tween the ends thereof and said side walls retained to said clamping lever by frictional contact of the cooperating side and bottom end walls thereof forminga U-shaped member receiving box with the legs of said member projecting downwardly through the channels Tin the lower end thereof, and spring means abutting the U- base of said U-shaped member and a bottom end wall to resiliently retain said trouser button receiving hook supporting member within said box. Y 10. A device for holding down the front of a shirt, comprising a U-shaped clamping member `having an upper leg, having clamping lugs projecting upwardly therefrom and a lower leg adapted `to straddle a shirt front edge having a cut away portion in the upper leg thereof hav-ing Apivot ears projecting inwardly from-each side ledge thereof, a clamping lever having. a flat power arm having pivot holes for said pivot lugs in the upper end thereof. and a relatively short work arm bent inwardly at right angles from the upper lend of said power arm having a smooth clamping 'rear edge whereby when said power arm is raised at right angles to said clamping upper leg said work arm may pivot to a position substantially parallel to said upper leg to permit ashirt edge to be insertedlaterally between fthe legs of said clamping member and whereby when said power arm is pivoted to a' locking position substantially parallel with saidlower leg,

said clamping edge may clamp the shirt front edge against said lower leg, and a resiliently and privotally mounted hook projecting downwardly from said power arm adapted to loop over a trouser button to hold down said device andatu tached .shirt front.

11. A -device for holding down the front of a shirt, comprising a U-shaped clamping member having an upper leg and a lower leg adapted to straddle a shirt front edge having a cut away portion in the upper leg thereof having pivot means on each inner side edge thereof, a clamping lever having a flat power arm having cooperating pivot means on each side of the upper end thereof and a relatively short work arm bent inwardly at right angles from the upper end of said power arm having a 'clamping rear edge, whereby when said power arm is raised at right angles to said clamping upper leg said work 'arm may pivot to a position substantially parallel to saiduppei leg to permit a shirt edge to be inserted laterally betweenthe legsof said clamping member and wherebywhen said power arm is pivoted to a locking position substantially parallel with said lower leg said clamping edge may clamp the shirt front edge against said lower leg and a resiliently mounted hook projecting downwardly from said power'arm adapted to loop over a trouser button to hold down said device and attached shirt front.

. 12. A device for holding down the front of a shirt, comprising a U-shaped clamping member Ahaving an' upper leg and a lower leg adapted to straddle a shirt frontedge having a cutaway portion in the upper leg thereof having pivot means on each inner side edge thereof, a clamping lever having a power arm having cooperating pivot means on each side of the upper end thereof and a relatively short work' arm bent inwardly at right angles from the upper end of said power arm having a clamping rearv edge, whereby when said power arm lis raised at right angles to said clamping upper leg said work arm may pivot toa position substantially parallel` to said upper leg to permit a shirt edge to be inserted laterally between the legs of said clamping member and whereby when said power arm is pivoted to a'locking position substantially 'parallel with said lower leg, said clamping edge may clamp the shirt front edge against said lower leg and a pivotally mounted hook projecting 1 downwardly from said power arm adapted to loop over a trouser button to hold down said device and attached shirt' front.

13. A device' for holding down the front of a shirt comprising clamping means including a U- shaped clamping member having an upper leg and a lower leg adapted to straddle a shirt front edge having a cut away portion in the upper leg thereof having pivot means on opposite edges thereof, a clamping lever having a power arm having cooperating pivot means on each side of the inner end thereof, a relatively short work arm bent inwardly at right angles' to the inner end of said power arm having a clamping rear edge, whereby when said power arm is raised at right angles to said upper leg the work arm may pivot substantially parallel to said upper leg to permit a shirt edge to be inserted laterally between thelegs of said clamping member and whereby when said power arm is pivoted to a position substantially parellel to said lower leg, said clamping edge may clamp the shirt front' edge against said lower leg and an upper trouser edge clamp dependingv from said clamping means.

ico

14. A device for holding down the front of a shirt comprising a U-shaped clamping member having an upper leg and a lower leg adapted to straddle a shirt front edge having a out away portion on the upper leg thereof having pivot means on opposite edges thereof, a clamping 1ever member having a flat power arm having cooperating pivot means on each side of the inner end thereof, a relatively short Work arm bent inwardly at right angles to the inner end of said power arm having a clamping rear edge, whereby when said power arm is raised at right angles to said upper leg the work arm may pivot substantially parallel to said upper leg to permit a shirt edge to be inserted laterally between the legs of said clamping member and whereby when said power arm is pivoted to a position substantially parallel to said lower leg said clamping edge may clamp the shirt front edge against said lower leg and an upper trouser edge clamp resiliently depending from one of said members.

l5. A device for holding down the front of a shirt comprising a U-shaped clamping member having an upper leg and a lower leg adapted to straddle a shirt front edge having a cut away portion in the upper leg thereof having pivot means on opposite edges thereof, a clamping lever having a power arm having cooperating pivot means on each side of the inner end thereof, a relatively short work arm bent inwardly at right angles to the inner end of said power arm having a clamping rear edge, whereby when said power arm is raised at right angles to said upper leg the work arm may pivot substantially parallel to said upper leg to permit a shirt edge to be inserted laterally between the legs of said clamping member and whereby when said power arm is pivoted to a position substantially parallel to said lower leg said clamping edge may clamp the shirt front edge against said lower leg and an upper trouser edge clamp resiliently depending from said clamping lever.

16. A device for holding down the front of a shirt comprising a U-shaped clamping member having an upper leg and a lower leg adapted to straddle a shirt front edge having a cut away portion in the upper leg thereof having pivot means on opposite edges thereof, a clamping lever having a power arm having cooperating pivot means on each side of the inner end thereof so as to extend at right angles to the length of the base member and a relatively short work arm bent inwardly at right angles to the inner end of said power arm having a clamping rear edge,l whereby when said power arm is raised at right angles to said upper leg the work arm may pivot substantially parallel to said upper leg to permit a shirt edge to be inserted laterally between the legs of said clamping member and whereby when said power arm is pivoted to a position substantially parallel to said lower leg said clamping edge may clamp the shirt front edge against said lower leg and upper trouser edge retaining means depending from the lower leg of said U-shaped member.

17. A device for holding down the front of a shirt comprising a U-shaped clamping member having an upper leg and a lower leg adapted to straddle a shirt front edge having a cut away portion in the upper leg thereof having pivot means on opposite edges thereof, a clamping lever having a power arm having cooperating pivot means on each side of the inner end thereof so as to extend at right angles to the length of the base member and a relatively short work arm bent inwardly at right angles to the inner end of said power arm having a clamping rear edge, whereby when said power arm is raised at right angles to said upper leg the work arm may pivot substantially parallel to said upper leg to permit a shirt edge to be inserted laterally between the legs of said clamping member and whereby when said power arm is pivoted to a position substantially parallel to said lower leg said clamping edge may clamp the shirt front edge against said 115 lower leg and a hook adapted to hok over a trouser button pivotally mounted on the lower leg of said U-shaped member. 

